Split socket with movable facets and drive assembly

Abstract

A split socket having movable fitting contacting facets and a drive transfer assembly are disclosed which are particularly well suited for manipulating line fittings. The split socket preferably includes first and second movable dogs pivotably mounted at opposite surfaces of an opening in a rotatable socket. The socket opening is at least as wide as the point-to-point diameter of the fitting to be received thereat. Each of the dogs has a facet configured for engaging and thereby, in conjunction with one another, rotating the fitting when the socket is rotated in a first direction, the dogs being movable by the fitting away from engagement when the socket is rotated in the opposite direction, thus allowing rotation of the socket in the opposite direction while the fitting remains substantially still. The drive transfer assembly includes a housing and drive gear or gear train, the housing being configured to admit the fitting to the socket opening directly therethrough and to assure proper orientation of the fitting, once admitted, relative to the socket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A split socket driven by a gear for rotating a threaded fitting comprising: a socket body having an inner periphery and an outer periphery that is engageable with the gear for rotation of said socket body in either of first and second directions, said inner periphery having first and second spaced substantially parallel surfaces; and   fitting contacting means pivotably attached at said inner periphery of said socket body for contacting the threaded fitting to rotate the threaded fitting when said socket body is rotated in said first direction and for contacting and pivoting away from the threaded fitting without substantial rotation of the threaded fitting when said socket body is rotated in said second direction, said fitting contacting means having a first facet surface for flush contact with a side surface of the threaded fitting to achieve rotation of the fitting, said facet surface being configured so that, upon flush contact with the side surface of the threaded fitting, said facet surface, and so the side surface of the threaded fitting, is positioned at an angle greater than 0° and less than about 20° relative to said first and second parallel surfaces of said inner periphery of said socket body.   
     
     
       2. The split socket of claim 1 wherein said fitting contacting means consists of first and second pivotably attached members. 
     
     
       3. The split socket of claim 1 wherein said first and second spaced surfaces of said inner periphery of said socket body define a gap in said socket body said inner periphery having an arcuate surface continuing said first and second surfaces at one end of each said surface, said fitting contacting means being pivotably attached adjacent to one of said first and second surfaces. 
     
     
       4. The split socket of claim 1 wherein said fitting contacting means includes a shaft engaged in said socket body adjacent to said inner periphery and a pivotable member at said shaft. 
     
     
       5. The split socket of claim 4 wherein said socket body has indented structure therein for mounting of said shaft and for accommodating pivoting away of said pivotable member when said socket body is rotated in said second direction. 
     
     
       6. The split socket of claim 5 wherein a stop wall is defined at one part of said indented structure against which said pivotable member bears while said fitting is rotated, said split socket further comprising biasing means for biasing said pivotable member toward said stop wall. 
     
     
       7. A tool for manipulating a fitting having a plurality of sides, said tool comprising: a manipulable body having an inner periphery, said inner periphery having first and second opposing, substantially parallel surfaces defining a fitting receiving gap in said body and being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the greatest diameter of the fitting to be manipulated; and   first and second members each having a facet for contacting a side of the fitting to rotate the fitting when said body is rotated in a first direction, each of said members being pivotably mounted adjacent to a different one of said surfaces of said inner periphery of said body, said facets of said members being configured so that, upon contact with the sides of the threaded fitting for rotation of the fitting, said facets, and so the sides of the threaded fitting, are positioned at an angle greater than 0° and less than about 20° relative to said first and second surfaces of said inner periphery of said manipulable body.   
     
     
       8. The tool of claim 7 wherein the fitting is a hex fitting, and wherein said facets are configured so that, when said facets fully contact the sides of the fitting to rotate the fitting, about 15° of relative rotation between said surfaces of said inner periphery of said body and the contacted sides of the hex fitting is maintained. 
     
     
       9. The tool of claim 7 wherein the contacted sides of the hex fitting are opposite sides each having a face with a midpoint, said facets being of a length so that the faces of the opposite sides are fully contacted by said facets only past the midpoints of the faces. 
     
     
       10. The tool of claim 7 wherein both of said members include second facets for contacting the fitting to pivot said members away from the fitting when said body is rotated in a second direction. 
     
     
       11. The tool of claim 7 wherein each of said members has a pivot point at said body positioned so that a line connecting said pivot points would be perpendicular to said surfaces of said inner periphery of said body. 
     
     
       12. The tool of claim 11 wherein said inner periphery of said body includes an arcuate surface continuing said first and second surfaces at one end of each said surface, said arcuate surface being positioned relative to said members so that a fitting contacts said arcuate surface when properly positioned for rotation in said body. 
     
     
       13. A device for manipulating a threaded line fitting while the fitting is in place around the line, said device for releasable engagement with a power driver, said device comprising: a split socket having an inner periphery and an engageable outer periphery together defining a part of a side wall, said side wall having a gap therein to allow positioning of the fitting at said inner periphery of said socket, said inner periphery having first and second opposing surfaces with a first member movably maintained adjacent to said first surface and a second member movably maintained adjacent to said second surface, each of said members having a pivot point at said side wall positioned so that a line connecting said pivot points would be perpendicular to said surfaces of said inner periphery of said split socket; and   a compact drive transfer assembly including a housing having said split socket rotatably mounted therein, said housing having a gap at one part thereof substantially corresponding in one dimension to said gap in said side wall of said socket, and drive means mounted in said housing for selectively imparting 360° rotational motion to said socket and having a portion configured to be releasably engaged witch the driver, said gaps being in register when said socket is rotated to a selected position.   
     
     
       14. The device of claim 13 wherein said drive means includes a primary drive gear rotatably mounted in said housing and having said portion thereat and linkage means mounted in said housing and configured to engage said primary drive gear and said outer periphery of said socket for imparting rotational motion to said socket when said primary drive gear is rotated by the driver. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 13 wherein said gap in said side wall of said socket and said gap in said housing are at least equal in size to the greatest diameter of the fitting to be manipulated. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim 13 wherein said members are for contacting the fitting to rotate the fitting when said socket is rotated in a first direction and for contacting and pivoting away from the fitting without substantial rotation of the fitting when said socket is rotated in said second direction. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 16 further comprising means for causing said socket to cease rotation when said gap in said wall of said socket and said gap in said housing are brought into correspondence by rotating said socket in said second direction. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 13 wherein said housing includes a wall adjacent to said gap to provide a solid stop for proper positioning of the fitting when received at said inner periphery of said socket. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 13 wherein said drive means is a gear engagable at said engageable outer periphery of said socket.